Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Preoperative beta blocker use and postoperative ischaemic stroke risk in noncardiac surgery: a multicentre retrospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Long-term beta blocker prescription was associated with increased risk of ischaemic stroke within 30 days and up to 365 days after surgery.
Study context
- Population
- Adults undergoing noncardiac surgery 2005–2021 at two academic healthcare networks in the US
- Exposure
- Long-term beta blocker prescription vs none within 1 yr before surgery
- Outcome
- Postoperative ischaemic stroke
- Follow-up
- 30 and 365 days
Methodological detailsmulticentre
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Postoperative stroke
Beta blocker vs No beta blockerAdjusted relative risk (95% CI)P value
30 days
1.26(1.17–1.36)
P < 0.001365 days
1.22(1.16–1.28)
P < 0.001Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Adjusted RR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stroke within 365 days, by ASA physical status (subgroup)Beta blocker vs No beta blocker · ASA 1-2 | 1.96 (1.56–2.45) | P < 0.001 | |
| Stroke within 365 days, by ASA physical status (subgroup)Beta blocker vs No beta blocker · ASA 3-4 | 1.20 (1.15–1.26) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.512Adjusted relative risk (log scale) |
- Stroke within 365 days, by ASA physical status (subgroup): P for interaction <0.001
Stroke in patients with severe HF (subgroup)
- No significant association observed in patients with severe HF
Original publication
Preoperative beta blocker use and postoperative ischaemic stroke risk in noncardiac surgery: a multicentre retrospective cohort study. Br J Anaesth. Published 8 January 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →